Sheet-metal heating furnace



March 4, 1930. w. A. LACKE 1,749,143

SHEET METAL HEATING FURNACE Original Filed m 2. 1921 I Mo 4 48 @9454940I Q 1 W4 6 ?atented Man a, 1g?

D STATES PATENT SHEET-METAL HEATING FURNACE original application filedmay 2, 1921, Serial No. 466,184.- Divided and this application filedNovember 29, 1922. Serial No. 603,939.

This is a division of application Serial Number 466,184, filed May 2,1921.

My invention relates to furnaces for heating variously shaped metalarticles prepara- 5 tory totsubsequent treatment wherein suchpreliminary heating is an important factor, and it is especially adaptedfor use in heating relatively thin flat metal sheets. My improvedheating furnace is especially applicable to and has been successfullyused with great saving in the art of stamping freight car end plateswith suitable configurations or corrugations well known in the freightcar art, such end plates being of large area and very difiicult tohandle with the apparatus and methods heretofore used.

One object of my invention is to provide a furnace in which heating ofmetal articles, flat plates and the like, can be carried out moreeconomically, expeditiously, and effectively than in furnaces of thetype heretofore in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby theproducts of combustion may circulate freely around the articles withinthe furnace, thereby insuring complete heating of the articles undertreatment and in a minimum s ace of time and with marked economy in t eamount of heat re- 39 quired.

A further object of my invention is to provide small, isolated supports,projectin upwardly from the bottom or hearth 0 the,

furnace, suitably spaced throughout the area of the same and upon whichthe articles being heated may rest.

' A further object of my invention is to provide means for moving theplates into and through the furnace by a step-by-step mo- 40 tion.

A further object of my invention is to operate such feeding mechanism sothat the lates or other articles being heated will first e liftedvertically from their supports; then a v 4 moved horizontally, and thenlowered upon such supports in a fresh position in the furnace; suchaction avoiding all moving contact with such supports.

A furtherobject of my invention is to ro- 5 vide feeding means of a typethat will a 0rd ample support for thin sheet metal plates, or otherarticles undergoing treatment.

A further object of my invention is to provlde feeding means of a typethat will offer a m nimum surface to interrupt or interfere with thepassage of the flame and the products of combustion within the heatingchamber of the furnace.

A further object of my invention is to maintain the feeding means whollyout of contact with any portion of the heating chamber; such feedingmeans being supported clear of the hearth at all times and having itsplateengaging portions clear of the plate supports carried by thehearth.

A further object of my invention is to provide a feeding mechanismincluding hollow members through which a cooling medium may becirculated, and a still further object of my invention is to providemeans whereby such feeding mechanism may be readily operated externallyof the furnace.

These and other features'of my invention are more particularly describedhereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a furnace within the scope of my inventionarranged for continuously heating a plurality of plates.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, largely in sec tion on the line 22, Figure1, of the heating furnace shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the movement of a given point in theoperation of the plate feeding mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, 18 represents a suitable furnace itcontaining plate handling or feeding mec anism, more particularlydescribed hereinafter, and dis osed substantially midway of such furnacepit and bridging the same, is a heating furnace 25 having the featuresforming one part of my invention. In this furnace 25 are a plurality ofarticle supporting blocks ,or columns 26 extending upward from thebottom or hearth of the furnace so that when a metal article,

such as a plate 12, is placed on these blocks in any of the positionsindicated at B, C or D, hot blast delivered from any suitable sourcethrough nozzles 27 can pass freely around below as. well as over theplates or other articles and heat them.

The blocks 26 are in sutficient numbers to properly support the hotplates or other articles passing through the furnace, and they may bespaced approximately equal distances apart overthe bottom or hearth ofthe heating chamben, While the supports are, for the purposes of readydescription, illustrated in the drawing as arranged in groups, it willbe understood that such grouping is not essential in the construction oroperation of my improved heating furnace, since the plates passingthrough the furnace will automatically select their position onsuchsupports, depending upon the dimensions of the same. At the same time,these supports are made small enou h to readily heat up to thetemperature-o the products of combustion introduced into the heatingchamber, so that they do not prevent proper heating of the articlessupported by the same.

For the purpose of effecting movement of the plates through the heatingfurnace, I have provided a special type of feeding means; such meansbeing of a character designed to lift a series of plates or otherarticles and when in the elevated osition to carry a fresh plate orother article mto the furnace and simultaneously with such movement toshift the plates or other articles within the furnace and discharge oneof the same. In the specific embodiment of thebroad invention hereshown, I have provided a frame comprising a plurality, in the particularcase here illustrated three, parallel longitudinal pipes 28 havingvertical portions '29 connected to and passing through the longitudinalmembers of a suitable .support 30; such structure being mounted on a car32, and arranged to move both longitudinally and vertically of thefurnace in accordance with the diagram illustrated in Figure 4. Thesepipes 28 are cooled by being supplied with water from any suitablesource to pipe connections 34 at one end and are adapted to deliver theheated water through discharge pipe 36 emptying int-o the'pit l8enclosing the car 32.

The water so discharged may run out of the pit through a suitable pipe42 to a waste pipe or sewer 44. The car 32 is adapted to run on rails 40suitably disposed 'at the bottom of the pit, and this car 32 carries aircylinders 48, having pistons 49 within the same, with rods 49 connectedat their opposite ends to the frame 30; such cylinders being suitablysupplied with compressed air or other fluid pressure through pipes 50 soarranged that the operator may cause the pipes 28 to move verticallyfrom full linetodotted line position of Figures 2 and 3, and vice versa,atwi-ll. The length of such vertical movement is such that when thepipes are'in the full line posidotted line position, the plates arelifted offthe supports and can be carried by the pipes 28 along throughthe furnace, usually but not necessarily from right to left as viewed inFigure 2.

The car 32 is horizontally reciprocable on the rails'40, from its fullline to its dotted line position and vice versa. This movement may beeffected by any suitable means, as for instance an air cylinder 52supplied with air from any suitable source to operate a piston thereinwhereby its piston rod 54 may be reciprocated to move the car 32 alongthe rails 40 in either direction.

The result of thisconstruction is that the normal movement of a point ona pipe 28 to carry a plate 12 step-by-step into and through the furnacefrom right to left is as shown diagrammatically in Figure 4. Assumingthat a given point on a pipe 28 starts at the level of corner 58 in saidfigure; the first movement carries it up line 59, the second movementcarries it along line 60, the third movement is along line 61, and thefinal movement is back to original position along line 62. If it isdesired to carry plates in the opposite direction, the cylinders 48 and52 are merely operatedin reverse order to cause a point on the pipe totraverse the path illustrated by the diagram of Figure 4 in the oppositedirection.

In the operation of my improved heating furnace, the plates 12 may bedelivered to the pipes 28 of the frame of the feeding mechanism, outsidethe furnace at position A, as indicated in full lines, Figure 2. Theoperator then admits pressure to cylinders 48 to raise the frame and theplate with it from the full line to the dotted line position of Figure3; The operator admits pressure to the cylindcr 52 to carry the feedingmechanism to the left (in the particular arrangement disclosed) throughthe furnace,- until such initially placed plate has been brought to theposition B in such. furnace. The frame is then lowered by exhausting airfrom cylinder 48 and as the frame lowers, it leaves the plate on certainof the supports 26, in said position B. In the present instance, suchpomechanism automatically transfers the first means mentioned plate 12from position B to position C, and places new plate 12 in position B.The operation is again repeated, thus adding a new plate in the furnaceand filling the positions B, C and 1). With each movement of the feedingmechanism, a given plate goes further along the furnace and becomeshotter and the next operation of the feeding mechanism, after thefurnace has been filled, carries the original plate, now in position D,out through furnace opening 53 to the dotted line position E, where itrests outside the furnace on supports 55 in alignment with rails 56leading away from the side of the furnace.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: 1. In mechanism of the class described, a'

plate heating furnace, internally provided with a multiplicityofsupports, a plurality of said supports so sustaining one plate of aplurality of plates side by side through. the furnace that gas may passabove and below the plate, automatic means manipulatable from outsidethe furnace for carrying a plate step by step into the furnace, on to aplurality of said support, and finally out of the furnace, for thepurposes set forth.

2. ln mechanism of the class described, a plate heating furnaceinternally provided with a multiplicity of supports, a plurality of saidsupports so sustaining one plate of a plu rality of plates side by sidethrough the furnace that gas may pass above and below the plate,automatic means manipulatable from outside the furnace for carrying aplate step by step into the furnace, on to a plurality of said supports,and finally out of the furnace; said plate carrying means includinghollow pipes which operatively engage the'plates, and means forcirculating a cooling medium through the pipes of the plate transportingmechanism.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a furnace open at opposite ends,a plurality of plate supports in the furnace between the openings at itsends, holding a plate placed thereon clear of the furnace bottom so gasmay pass below it as well as overit, a mechanism by means of which aplurality of plates are moved into the said furnace, one at a time, andplaced in a single layer side by side on said supports, all plates onsaid supports being simultaneously moved from one position on aplurality of said supports to another position on a plurality of saidsupports, so that when the furnace is in full operation there is acontinuous line of plates moving by a step by step motion through thefurnace.

l. in a mechanism of the class described, a furnace having a pluralityof plate supports, arranged in groups of approximately equally spacedsupports, each adapted to sustain one plate, means for carrying aplurality of plates, one at a time by a step by step movement throughthe furnace from one group of said supports to the next group, for thepurposes set forth.

5. ln mechanism of the class described, a furnace chamber, a pluralityof relatively small spaced supports leading from one end of the furnaceto the other, and adapted to sustain plates clear of the furnace bottom,vertically reciprocable andhorizontallyreciprocable pipes locatedbetween said supports, means for moving said pipes in a rectangular pathwhereby the plates carried by said pipes are moved through the furnaceby a step by step movement resting first on one set of supports and thenon another until the plates are finally delivered out of the furnace.

6. ln mechanism of the class described, a furnace pit, an open endedfurnace mounted above the pit and intermediate of its ends, a car in thepit reciprocable lengthwise of the furnace, a platform on the carreciprocable vertically of the car, means for causing each suchreciprocation of the car and platform, plate carrying pipes supported bythe platform entering the furnace at each end and plate supports in thefurnace having their tops at points intermediate between the extremepositions of movement of the pipes as the platform reciprocatesvertically, and clearing the path of travel of the pipes, as the carreciprocates, for the purposes set forth.

7. In mechanism of the class described, a furnace pit, an open endedfurnace mounted above the pit and intermediate of its ends, a car in thepit reciprocable lengthwise of the furnace, a platform on the carreciprocable vertically of the car, means for causing each suchreciprocation of the car and platform,

plate carrying pipes supported by the plat- 1 form entering the furnaceat each end and plate supports in the furnace having their tops atpoints intermediate between the extreme positions of movement of thepipes as the platform reciprocates vertically, clearing the. path oftravel of the pipes, as the car reciprocates, and means for watercooling said pipes in all positions of movement of the car, for thepurposes set forth.

8. In mechanism of the class described, a plate heating furnace,internally provided with a multiplicity of groups of supports, eachgroup so sustaining one plate of a plurality of plates sideby sidethrough the furnace that gas may pass above andbelow the 1 plate, andautomatic means manipulatable from outside the furnace selectivelyoperatable for carrying a plate in either direction step by step intothe furnace, on to each successive group of said supports, and finallyout of-the furnace, for the purposes set forth.

9. ln mechanism of the class described, a plate heating furnace,internally provided with a multiplicity of groups of supports, eachgroup so sustaining one plate of a plurality of plates side by sidethrough the furnace that gas may pass above and below the plate, andautomatic means manipulatable from outside. the furnace selectivelyoperatable for carrying a plate in either direction step by step intothe furnace, onto each successive group of said supports, and finallyout of the furnace, the carrying mechanism being so proportioned andarranged that each of its step movements carries the plate a distance atleast equal to its width, for the purposes set forth.

1(). In mechanism of the class described, an open-ended furnace having aclosed bottom, a frame, one of whose sides is an elongatedplate-carrying member, extending through the furnace, and whoseremaining sides are outside the furnace, plate supporting devices besidethe plate carrier side of the frame adapted to normally hold alplate inthe furnace above and clear of the plate carrier,

and operating means engaging the frame outside the f'urnace for givingthe frame a rectangular motionby virtue of which the plate carrier liftsa plate from one position with respect to said supporting devices, movesit'a certain distance lengthwise of the furnace, and replaces it inanother position with respect to said supporting devices.

11. in mechanism of the class described, an openended furnace having aclosed bottom, a frame, one of whose sides is an elon ated plate carriermember extending throug the furnace, and whose remaining sides areoutside the furnace, of such a length that it can be moved lengthwise ofthe furnace at least the distance which a plate is at one movement to bemoved lengthwise of'the furnace, plate supporting devices beside theplate carrier side of the frameeadapted to normally hold a plate in thefurnace above and clear of the plate-carrier, and operating meansengaging the frame outside thefurnace for giving the frame a rectangular,motion by virtue of which the plat carrier lifts a plate from oneposition with respect to said supporting devices, moves it a certaindistance lengthwise of the furnace, and replaces it in another positionwith respect to saidsupporting devices.

ill"

a 12. in mechanism of the class described, an open-ended furnace havinga closed bottom,

a rectangular frame, one of whose sides is a' water-cooled pipeplate-carrying member extending through the furnace, and whose remainingsides are outside the furnace, plate supporting -devices beside the pipeside of the frame adapted to normally hold a plate in the furnace aboveand clear of the pipe, and

operating means engaging the frame outside the furnace for giving theframe a rectangular motion by virtue of which the pipe lifts a platefrom one position with respect to said supporting devices, moves it acertain distance lengthwise of the furnace, and replaces it in anotherposition with respect to said supporting devices.

13. In mechanism of the class described, an open-ended furnace having aclosed bottom, is a water-cooledpipe plate-carrying member extendingthrough the furnace, and whose remaining sides are outside the furnace,of such a length that it can be moved len thwise of the furnace at leastthe distance w ich a plate is to at one movement be moved len hwise ofthe furnace, plate supporting devices beside the pipe side of the frameadapted to normally hold a plate in the furnace above and'clear of thepipe, and operating means engaging the frame outside the furnaceforgiving the frame a rectangular motion by virtue of which the pipelifts a plate from one position with respect to said supporting devices,moves it aLcertain distance lengthwise of the furnace, and replaces itin another position with respect to said supporting devices.

14. In mechanism of the class described, an open-ended furnace,an'article carrier extending into the furnace and out of contact arectangular frame, one of whose sides ed to hold an article above andclear of the carrier, a traveling car disposed outside the furnace andto which said carrier is attached, and means for, giving said carrier arectangular motion by virtue of which it is brought into contact with anarticle to lift the same off said supports, move it a distancelengthwise of the furnace and replace it on said supports; comprisingmechanism for reciprocating said car longitudinally of the furnaceand'vertically movable means for the carrier supported by andreciprocable with the car.

15. In'mechanism of the class described, an open-ended furnace, a watercooled article carrying pipe extendin into the furnace and out ofcontact 'therewit supports within the furnace adapted to hold an articleabove and clear of said carrying pipe, a traveling car disposed outsidethe furnace and to which said carrying pipe is attached, and means forgiving said article carryin lar motion by virtue of w ich it is broughtinto contact with an article to lift the same ofl'said supports, move ita distance lengthwise of the furnace and replace it on said supports;comprising mechanism for reciprocating said car longitudinally of thefur nace, vertically movable means for the car-= rying pipe supported byand reciprocable with the car, and mechanism for operating saidvertically movable means while the car 1s occupying any'position-withrespect to its range of longitudinal movement.

16. in mechanism of the class described, an open-ended furnace, anarticle carrier extending into the furnace, supports within the furnaceadapted to hold an article above and clear of the carrier, a travelincar disposed outside the furnace, and means or giving said carrier arectangular motion by virtue of which it is brought into contact with anarticle to lift the same ofl said supports, move it a distancelengthwise of the furnace and replace it on said supports; comprisinfluid pressure means for reciprocating sald car longitudinally of thefurnace and vertically movable means operated by fluid pressuresupported by and reciprocable with the car.

17. In combination with a furnace having a longitudinally slotted floor,mechanism for moving bodies intermittently through the furnacecomprising a carrier consisting of longitudinal pipes disposed in saidfloor slots and transverse members supporting the ends of thelongitudinal pipes, fluid operated means for raising said transversemembers, and means for imparting longitudinal movements to the carriercomprising a fluid pressure cylinder and piston.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM A LAGKE.

